Page 78 of Unpredictable
“Missed you too, sweetie.” I pressed a kiss to her hair.
“Connor.” I held out my hand.
“Sir.” We shook hands, and then they followed me inside.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” I said, the aroma of marinara sauce and cheese wafting out from the oven.
My phone chimed, and I turned away to glance at the screen. I frowned when I saw a new message.
Juliana:I don’t know when I’m going to be home. You should start without me.
“Everything okay?”Olivia asked.
“Yeah, um…” I hit the power button to darken my screen so Olivia wouldn’t see who I’d been texting. “Nothing important.”
Connor glowered at me, which I promptly ignored. He’d wanted me to tell Olivia about Juliana from the beginning. And now—when I was finally going to—she was MIA. Choosing her job over me, just like Cam had chosen work over family, time and time again.
I thought this was important to her. I thoughtIwas important to her. And while I understood that stuff came up at work, I knew how much Juliana hated keeping our relationship a secret.
“Are we waiting on anyone else?” Olivia asked with a glance at the table. I’d set it assuming Juliana was coming.
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh, okay,” she said, setting a platter of cookies on the counter. She was always baking—at least when she wasn’t reading.
Connor gave me a meaningful look, but I shook my head firmly.
Dinner was relatively uneventful. Olivia did most of the talking, telling us all about her time in London. And I was excited to hear about her adventures, even if I was distracted.
Juliana and I tried to have dinner together every night, at least when I wasn’t out of town for a photo shoot or she wasn’t occupied with a wedding. We lived busy lives and we both loved our jobs, but we always made time for each other.
With Cam, it had been so different. We’d both been so young, so self-absorbed. I’d learned from my mistakes, but I also just wanted it more. I wanted to be with Juliana more than I’d wanted anything in my life—even a championship ring. And it made me more willing to put in the effort. To know that things wouldn’t always be easy, but being with her was worth it.
I was disappointed that she couldn’t make it, but I had a choice. I could stew over it and be angry about something out of her control. Or I could do something to help lessen her burden. If I loved her like I said I did, I needed to step up.
After Connor and Olivia left, I decided to call Juliana.
“Harrison, hey,” she answered on the third ring, sounding winded. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t really talk right now.”
“I know,” I said, not wanting to add to her stress. “What can I do to help?”
She blew out a breath, and the music in the background faded a little. “Give me a clone. No. Three clones. God, I’m going to be here forever.”
“Where are Jen and Vanessa?” I asked, referring to her interns.
“Oh, they’re here. It’s the caterer who fucked up.” I knew she must really be livid if she was cussing. “They’re short-staffed. And now we’re bussing tables and refilling drinks.”
“I have to go,” she said and hung up before I could say goodbye. But a plan was already taking shape in my mind.
I changed into black slacks and a white shirt with a simple tie. Fortunately, I knew the event was at an arboretum nearby. I sped there, wondering if she’d be pissed or pleased to see me. I weaved through the gardens to where the engagement party was being held. Most of the guests were on the dance floor or mingling, too busy to notice me. Which suited me just fine. I was here to help Juliana, not sign autographs or pose for pictures. It was a roped-off event, but I waltzed right in, completely unnoticed.
Juliana was off in the distance, smiling as she bent over to refill someone’s drink. Her cheeks were flushed, but she looked happy. Despite how exhausted and frazzled she might be, she never let it show. At least, not with anyone but me.
I grabbed a tray and started stacking dishes, mimicking what the other servers were doing. I’d loaded several glasses when Juliana approached.
“Harrison?” she kept her voice low, likely so as not to draw attention to us.
I glanced up at her and smiled. “Hey, babe.” I returned my attention to my task.
